Business Coach

The three Ds are common to all entrepreneurs and make the difference between mediocre results and sterling success. Don’t run a business because you think you should (or someone else thinks you should). Your desire is what will re-ignite you during tough times so you need to be confident it is there and it is strong.

The bottom line is that being an entrepreneur is hard work. It is hugely rewarding but it asks huge commitment. And it will offer huge challenges. Your devotion and determination are the keys to building a business that can withstand the batterings of the market place.

Entrepreneurs look at the world they live in and ask what is missing. If your business is all about you, it will have a limited capacity for growth. Once it becomes about your customers, your staff, your community then it will always be able to grow. Because it will tap into a larger network than just you.

Don’t make the mistake of trying to the same thing as your key competitors but ‘cheaper’ or ‘better’. Rather, ask what are your competitors NOT doing? Think outside the box and offer your customers a bonus or benefit. It can be one they identify they need, or one you anticipate will make their life better. Don’t be afraid to lead the way. No-one knew they needed a personal computer until they were available. Now, who can live without one?

This quote from Steve Jobs speaks of the non-conformists who bring about change in the world. Your business may survive if you base it on existing models. That can be a safe option for a small business. But it will not thrive.

A pirate approach can take your business to blue oceans (a term that refers to businesses that create new market spaces rather than competing in existing ones). You don’t have to invent something out of nothing to be ‘blue ocean’. But if you can identify a unique offering your business, product or service has that is not being fully explored in the market place – bingo! You transition from running a small business to steering an enterprise.